Family communication on HIV/AIDS among secondary school students in a northern state of Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Most Adolescents in Nigeria, like many others in Africa, are potentially at risk for contracting HIV through unprotected sexual intercourse. Yet the issue of how to help youth avoid risky sexual behaviour through family communication/education on HIV/AIDS is still of serious arguments within the society. This study examines the practice of family communication on HIV/AIDS among secondary school students. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study using 420 secondary school students selected by multi-stage random sampling. Self administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Result: Only 48(12.1%) reported family as the first source of information. However, most of the students 315 (79.7%) had family communication on HIV/AIDS with their family members. There is a gender difference in practice of family communication. Significantly higher proportion of the female students had family communication more than their male counterparts. The educational status of the parents significantly determined whether or not a student had family communication on HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Mothers more than fathers discuss on HIV/AIDS with their children. Also more females than male students have family communication on HIV/AIDS. There is considerable level of family communication in the study population which should be encouraged further to cut across all members of the family.